Santa Clarita body identified as O.C. student

November 12, 2010 12:00:00 AM PST

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. --

Human remains found in the Santa Clarita Valley were positively identified on Friday as a Fullerton college student.Authorities said the remains belong to 20-year-old Lynsie Ekelund who vanished 10 years ago. She had gone to a trip to San Diego and never returned.

Investigators say a man recently confessed to her murder, which led them to her remains.

The suspect is the victim's one-time friend Christopher McAmis, 31, who had remained a person of interest in the disappearance since he was the last person to see her.

McAmis confessed to killing Ekelund in his former home in Whittier before dumping her body in a canyon area in the Santa Clarita Valley, where he worked a construction job with his father.

Detecties said Ekelund vanished after going to a San Diego club with McAmis and two other students on Feb. 17, 2001. McAmis allegedly tried to force himself on her when they were alone, but when she refused his advances, things allegedly turned deadly.

The coroner was able to use dental records to identify the remains. The cause of Ekelund's murder remains under investigation.